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The Tao of the Side Hustle
Your pay isn't keeping up with the cost of living. Student debt weighs you down. Job opportunities just aren't there, and you feel like you're falling farther and farther behind.
Maybe it's time to look beyond a traditional job and get ahead through a side hustle.
In The Tao of the Side Hustle, martial arts champion and serial side hustler Don Hyun Kiolbassa applies principles of Wushu Kung Fu—the Chinese War Art popularized by Sun Tzu in Art of War—to provide a detailed framework for starting and growing your own venture.
Don Hyun Kiolbassa is no stranger to side hustles. In addition to owning his own law firm, he is a CPA, martial artist, dynamic speaker and performer, and since 2009 the motion capture model for some of the biggest action video games, including Scorpion in the Mortal Kombat franchise and Batman in the DC Universe Injustice Series.
When he was at his lowest professionally and financially, he had an epiphany that helped him grow a side hustle into a full-time business: the principles of Wushu Kung Fu apply to business just as they do to fighting. He turned to the fundamental principles of strategy learned in a lifetime of Martial Arts, including his time living as a Monk at the Shaolin Temple in China.
In The Tao of the Side Hustle, Don shares this martial arts wisdom, blends Buddhist Martial Arts stories with strategic business, tax and legal principles, and explains how anyone interested in a side hustle or small business can follow in his footsteps.
Learn how to:
• Identify a side hustle suited to your skills and passions
• Join forces with family, friends, colleagues, and mentors to help launch successfully
• Deal with failure, rejection, and doubt
• Manage your time, including juggling your side hustle with your primary gig
• Decide if your side hustle should become your full-time income source
• Grow your side hustle into a full-fledged business
• Scale your business by establishing your mission, hiring, managing, and building a culture
If you know you want something better—a stronger financial picture, a better job, more control over your life—The Tao of the Side Hustle is your playbook for making it happen.
Maybe it's time to look beyond a traditional job and get ahead through a side hustle.
In The Tao of the Side Hustle, martial arts champion and serial side hustler Don Hyun Kiolbassa applies principles of Wushu Kung Fu—the Chinese War Art popularized by Sun Tzu in Art of War—to provide a detailed framework for starting and growing your own venture.
Don Hyun Kiolbassa is no stranger to side hustles. In addition to owning his own law firm, he is a CPA, martial artist, dynamic speaker and performer, and since 2009 the motion capture model for some of the biggest action video games, including Scorpion in the Mortal Kombat franchise and Batman in the DC Universe Injustice Series.
When he was at his lowest professionally and financially, he had an epiphany that helped him grow a side hustle into a full-time business: the principles of Wushu Kung Fu apply to business just as they do to fighting. He turned to the fundamental principles of strategy learned in a lifetime of Martial Arts, including his time living as a Monk at the Shaolin Temple in China.
In The Tao of the Side Hustle, Don shares this martial arts wisdom, blends Buddhist Martial Arts stories with strategic business, tax and legal principles, and explains how anyone interested in a side hustle or small business can follow in his footsteps.
Learn how to:
• Identify a side hustle suited to your skills and passions
• Join forces with family, friends, colleagues, and mentors to help launch successfully
• Deal with failure, rejection, and doubt
• Manage your time, including juggling your side hustle with your primary gig
• Decide if your side hustle should become your full-time income source
• Grow your side hustle into a full-fledged business
• Scale your business by establishing your mission, hiring, managing, and building a culture
If you know you want something better—a stronger financial picture, a better job, more control over your life—The Tao of the Side Hustle is your playbook for making it happen.
- GenresProductivity
240 pages, Hardcover
Published November 15, 2022
6 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 13, 2022
I'm shocked that I'm actually the first person to review this book, considering it's been out for a month. Initially, I was going to hold off on reading this book because I wanted to support my local library. Still, something about having no review, a catchy title, and the book being front-facing on a shelf at a Barnes and Noble said, "Buy me, and you'll know why." And I do know why.
For some time, I've wanted to find an easy-to-digest version of The Art of War. The actual translation of the book plus everyone else's literal translation of the book puts me to sleep. In addition to that, the way the books were structured was not on par with what I was hoping for. The Tao of the Side Hustle is a book that blended the knowledge of The Art of War into something that can be easily read within a few days.
The author admits in the very beginning, that he's not some millionaire. He was scrappy from the beginning, and actually showed the true side of an actual side hustle for someone who's starting off. Given that social media glamorizes how "easy" a side hustle is, they never show what really goes on behind the scenes on how it's done.
Love how the book is broken into three parts, and five chapters each with a story in each chapter that ties back to the topic of the chapter. The stories themselves come from actual folklore stores in East Asia (a blend of Chines,e Japanese, and Korean folklore), with the author's take on why it ties back to the chapter.
If you're looking for a silver bullet to get your easy side hustle and make millions in a week, this isn't the book for you, but you're willing to go with the flow, go back to basics and maybe practice a bit of taichi, there may be a place for you on the roster.
Also, this book isn't solely just for side hustles, you can also learn a few things here that can easily apply to life itself.
For some time, I've wanted to find an easy-to-digest version of The Art of War. The actual translation of the book plus everyone else's literal translation of the book puts me to sleep. In addition to that, the way the books were structured was not on par with what I was hoping for. The Tao of the Side Hustle is a book that blended the knowledge of The Art of War into something that can be easily read within a few days.
The author admits in the very beginning, that he's not some millionaire. He was scrappy from the beginning, and actually showed the true side of an actual side hustle for someone who's starting off. Given that social media glamorizes how "easy" a side hustle is, they never show what really goes on behind the scenes on how it's done.
Love how the book is broken into three parts, and five chapters each with a story in each chapter that ties back to the topic of the chapter. The stories themselves come from actual folklore stores in East Asia (a blend of Chines,e Japanese, and Korean folklore), with the author's take on why it ties back to the chapter.
If you're looking for a silver bullet to get your easy side hustle and make millions in a week, this isn't the book for you, but you're willing to go with the flow, go back to basics and maybe practice a bit of taichi, there may be a place for you on the roster.
Also, this book isn't solely just for side hustles, you can also learn a few things here that can easily apply to life itself.
November 1, 2023
"The Tao of the Side Hustle" is a refreshing and insightful guide that pleasantly surprised me with its valuable lessons on achieving more in life and work. If you're yearning for a greater sense of purpose or additional income streams, this book is a must-read. It offers a unique perspective on the world of side hustles, blending ancient wisdom with modern entrepreneurial principles. The author's ability to seamlessly weave the Tao philosophy into practical advice for today's hustlers is remarkable.
What sets this book apart is its emphasis on balance, harmony, and the importance of aligning your side hustle with your core values. It encourages readers to approach their endeavors with mindfulness and a holistic mindset, rather than just chasing profits. The book also provides concrete strategies for identifying your passions, setting clear goals, and navigating the challenges of juggling multiple commitments.
In a crowded field of self-help and business literature, "The Tao of the Side Hustle" stands out as a gem. It has become one of my favorite reads this year, offering not only valuable insights but also a sense of purpose and direction for those seeking to make the most out of their life and career. It's a book that resonates deeply and leaves a lasting impact, making it a worthwhile addition to anyone's reading list.
What sets this book apart is its emphasis on balance, harmony, and the importance of aligning your side hustle with your core values. It encourages readers to approach their endeavors with mindfulness and a holistic mindset, rather than just chasing profits. The book also provides concrete strategies for identifying your passions, setting clear goals, and navigating the challenges of juggling multiple commitments.
In a crowded field of self-help and business literature, "The Tao of the Side Hustle" stands out as a gem. It has become one of my favorite reads this year, offering not only valuable insights but also a sense of purpose and direction for those seeking to make the most out of their life and career. It's a book that resonates deeply and leaves a lasting impact, making it a worthwhile addition to anyone's reading list.
June 18, 2023
Garbage
April 23, 2023
A side hustle requires effort and dedication, but it's also important to maintain a balanced approach. You don't want your side hustle to take over your life or interfere with your primary job, personal relationships, or health. It's important to find a balance between your side hustle and other aspects of your life. This might mean setting clear boundaries, prioritizing self-care, and being mindful of your time and energy.
'The Tao Of The Side Hustle' written by Don Hyun Kiolbasa, happens to be a martial arts champion, a motion capture model for many leading action video games, a lawyer, a CPA, a business owner, alongside being a speaker and a performer captures the idea of building and scaling a successful side business, with a focus on innovation, customer feedback, and continuous improvement.
The book elaborates on the importance of identifying a business idea that aligns with your skills, interests, and passions. From creating a business plan, honing your skills, building a team, and marketing your business as well as finances, the author covers every detailed structure of how anyone can establish themselves on the right path of starting their side hustle, only if the above categories align with the goal.
The author also shares some wisdom about managing time, which is one of your most valuable resources when working on a side hustle and it's important to be intentional about how you spend your time and prioritize the most important tasks. This book is a sure-shot need of the time for anyone willing to take that extra mile to direct their life into a better future.
'The Tao Of The Side Hustle' written by Don Hyun Kiolbasa, happens to be a martial arts champion, a motion capture model for many leading action video games, a lawyer, a CPA, a business owner, alongside being a speaker and a performer captures the idea of building and scaling a successful side business, with a focus on innovation, customer feedback, and continuous improvement.
The book elaborates on the importance of identifying a business idea that aligns with your skills, interests, and passions. From creating a business plan, honing your skills, building a team, and marketing your business as well as finances, the author covers every detailed structure of how anyone can establish themselves on the right path of starting their side hustle, only if the above categories align with the goal.
The author also shares some wisdom about managing time, which is one of your most valuable resources when working on a side hustle and it's important to be intentional about how you spend your time and prioritize the most important tasks. This book is a sure-shot need of the time for anyone willing to take that extra mile to direct their life into a better future.
January 6, 2026
Well, this book is outstanding. I really enjoyed it. I was pretty impressed by the thought process the author goes through relating to things he learned in martial arts & being among monks in Asia. There are various takeaways that one can find useful in figuring out what your side hustle is & how to go about it so it's successful. I would mention there could be more to the story that would be useful, but the author wrote what he saw fit for the readers. How he got to where he is wasn't necessarily easy but he figures out ways to work so damn hard to make his side hustles/business get to where they are. His ways of bringing staff/employees to the forefront early are unusual but important. Most people don't put them first, but apparently works to keep good people. So go read & use the info & hopefully it will also work for you.
February 12, 2024
I found this book from the author posting a tiktok about it being on the shelf.
It’s a mix of Dave Ramsey, 996 work culture, and then advice about how to treat others and the importance of DEIBA. Have you ever seen the trifle Rachel makes in the tv show Friends? Lots of great foods that maybe didn’t all belong in the same dish. This book is like 3 or 4 different books in one, but in a way where his editor maybe should have stepped in, instead of in a way that felt valuable. I’d like to see more from the author, because I think he was on the right track with applying martial arts lessons to how we build businesses and community. This 2 is only not a 3 because I actually believe that the writer is capable of reworking this type of content into something 5 star worthy.
It’s a mix of Dave Ramsey, 996 work culture, and then advice about how to treat others and the importance of DEIBA. Have you ever seen the trifle Rachel makes in the tv show Friends? Lots of great foods that maybe didn’t all belong in the same dish. This book is like 3 or 4 different books in one, but in a way where his editor maybe should have stepped in, instead of in a way that felt valuable. I’d like to see more from the author, because I think he was on the right track with applying martial arts lessons to how we build businesses and community. This 2 is only not a 3 because I actually believe that the writer is capable of reworking this type of content into something 5 star worthy.
June 15, 2023
4 // Great Read for All Shark Tank Enthusiasts. The Art of War for entrepreneurs. A kick in the pants to get your side hustle up and running.
Say hello on IG @jux.booksbinge or @nonfictionfervor
Say hello on IG @jux.booksbinge or @nonfictionfervor
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews